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18 May 2006 : Column 1154W—continued
Overnight Stays
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost was of overnight accommodation for Ministers of State in his Department on foreign visits in each of the last three years. [68997]
Mrs. McGuire: The information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. Under the terms of the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, when travelling on official business Ministers are expected to make efficient and cost effective travel arrangements.
Pension Credit
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioner households were (a) estimated to be eligible for and (b) recipients of pension credit in (i) Aberdeen city and (ii) Aberdeenshire council areas in each financial year since 2001. [71926]
James Purnell: Estimates of eligibility are not available below the level of Great Britain. Information that is available is in the following table.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioner households have been (a) estimated to be eligible for and (b) recipients of pension credit in Gordon constituency for each financial year since 2001. [71927]
James Purnell: Estimates of eligibility are not available below the level of Great Britain. Information that is available is in the following table.
| Pension credit recipients in the parliamentary constituency of Gordon, by quarter since November 2003 | |
| Quarter | Recipients |
| Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Local Authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. 3. Pension Credit replaced Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) on 6 October 2003. 4. Recipients are those people who claim Pension Credit either on behalf of themselves only or on behalf of a household. This number is equal to the number of households in receipt of Pension Credit. Source: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study |
Power Companies (Security)
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department provides to power companies regarding appropriate security measures around (a) high-voltage pylons and (b) sub-stations. [71647]
Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 contain requirements to protect the public from danger associated with electrical plant, including high-voltage pylons and substations. Guidance on these regulations is available on DTI’s website (www.dti.gov.uk/files/file26709.pdf).
Returning to Work
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 437W, on returning to work, when he expects to make an assessment of the total number of annual job entries that would result from a nationally rolled out service. [67890]
Mrs. McGuire: We are still working on plans for the national roll-out of Pathways to Work and will make an announcement in due course. We therefore cannot make an accurate assessment of future annual job entries until plans have been finalised.
Culture, Media and Sport
BBC Broadcasts
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what she estimatesthe total cost of digital switchover will be to the (a) Government and (b) BBC; [71356]
(2) how much money the (a) Government and (b) BBC plan to spend on digital switchover assistance schemes to aid the elderly and the vulnerable. [71358]
Tessa Jowell: Other than the costs of updating television equipment within the Government sector, the only costs will be those incurred for research, communications and other programme support costs for the Digital Switchover Programme.
The costs of digital switchover to the BBC arise from:
the replacement of the existing analogue and digital terrestrial network with a new terrestrial network; Digital UK’s communications campaign; the BBC’s share of Digital UK’s other operating costs; the assistance scheme for people aged 75 or over or with a significant disability.
The BBC’s digital switchover costs are being assessed as part of work to determine the licence fee settlement for the new Charter period. This work will draw upon a variety of sources, including the BBC’s own figures and the financial analysis carried out by PKF, and set out in their independent report published on 26 April, and outputs from the Bolton Digital television trial, which considered the needs of those who would be entitled to help from the assistance scheme. We will set out details of the BBC’s switchover costs, including the costs of the assistance scheme later this year in association with the BBC
BBC Jam
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on BBC jam’s compliance with its approval conditions; and if she will make a statement. [71573]
Mr. Woodward: We are aware of comments regarding BBC jam in the recent report of the Content Advisory Board (CAB) and of concerns raised by industry representatives. It is a matter for the BBC to ensure that the digital curriculum service fully complies with the conditions of its approval.
Channel 4
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects Ofcom to commence its financial review of Channel 4; and if she will make a statement. [71879]
Mr. Woodward: The timing of reviews by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) is a matter for Ofcom itself, within the framework of its statutory duties and powers. My officials have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member and to send me a copy of his response. Copies of the Chief Executive’s letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Fashion Industry
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding for which her Department is responsible was spent in connection with sponsorship of the designer fashion industry in 2005-06; and if she will make a statement. [71620]
Mr. Woodward: The fashion industry is very important to the UK economy not only because of the contribution it makes to the economy and the employment it generates, but also because of the prestige our world-renowned designers generate for the UK.
My Department is committed to helping to improve the productivity of the UK fashion industry, and as part of the Creative Economy Programme, which aims to improve the growth and productivity of the UK’s creative industries, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State chaired a summit with fashion leaders to ascertain how Government can help the sector.
No lottery funding was spent in 2005-06 in connection with sponsoring the designer fashion industry. Sponsorship of the designer fashion industry is outside the scope of the Lottery Good Causes:
Arts
Heritage
Sport
Charitable Expenditure
Health
Education and Environment
the Olympics.
The Scottish Arts Council has used lottery money to assist people working in the fashion industry but does not use its funds for sponsorship. The Scottish Arts Council made three relevant Professional Development awards in 2005-06 totalling £2,705.
In addition, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) made one grant of £35,000 to a designer fashion project in 2005. NESTA does not receive an income stream from lottery proceeds, although its core revenue comes from investment income on a £250 million endowment originally received from the National Lottery.
Staff costs associated with my Department’s day-to-day sponsorship of the designer fashion industry since taking on responsibility for the sector in 2005 were found from within existing resources and no additional staff have been employed to sponsor the sector.
Football
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has held with (a) the Football League, (b) publicans and (c) police authorities on the impact on Football League attendances of the screening of Premiership football on a Saturday afternoon via foreign satellite systems. [71611]
Mr. Caborn: I have not held any discussions with the Football League, publicans or police authorities regarding the impact that the screening of Premiership football on a Saturday afternoon via foreign satellite systems has on Football League attendances.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Football Association Premier League on season ticket prices. [71613]
Mr. Caborn: I have not held any discussions with the FA Premier League on season ticket prices.
The Government have no role in the commercial and sporting operation of professional football. The issue of season tickets prices is a matter between individual clubs and the relevant football authorities.
Hospitality (Environmental Impact)
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the environment of green accommodation providers within the hospitality sector; and if she will make a statement; [71625]
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of the hospitality sector; and if she will make a statement. [71626]
Mr. Woodward: The Department has made no such assessments, either in relation to the hospitality sector as a whole or to green accommodation providers, and there are currently no plans for it to do so.
However, I recognise that all tourism businesses have a major role to play in helping protect and enhance the environment, in line with the Government’s wider goals of sustainable development. I therefore welcome the participation of hospitality businesses in schemes such as Hospitable Climates (a programme that has saved over 130,000 tonnes of carbon through reducingCO2 emissions since 2000) and the David Bellamy Conservation Award (held by over 500 holiday parks).
English Tourism Council research during 2003-04 showed that 84 per cent. of customers surveyed would choose an attraction or accommodation which was a member of a “green” accreditation scheme over one that was not—and that 68 per cent. would pay more for doing so. Currently over 10 schemes exist at national and local level, including the David Bellamy Award and the Green Tourism Business Scheme (over 500 businesses across England and Scotland). We are working with tourism stakeholders in England to develop a national framework for such schemes.
Olympic Games
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to ensure a lasting legacy of increased sporting participation following the 2012 Olympic Games. [71612]
Mr. Caborn: We are committed to driving up grass-roots participation in sport across the whole of the UK. The Olympic Board has overall responsibility for ensuring that the social, economic and sporting benefits from 2012 are maximised. The Board have agreed that the Greater London Authority, the British Olympic Association and Government will work together to ensure that there is lasting legacy of increased sporting participation in London, and the wider UK, as a result of the 2012 Games.
We are keen to use the inspiration of the Olympics and Paralympics to boost the numbers of people, particularly young people, engaged in sport. The UK School Games, which we envisage will be held each year in the run up to 2012, will not only be an opportunity for talented young people to engage in a major sporting event, but will also provide inspiration and a lasting legacy of competitive school sport for countless others.
Russian Orchestras
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the cost of visas and work permits for visiting orchestras from Russia; and if she will make a statement. [72173]
Mr. Lammy: Matters relating to the cost of work permits and visas are the responsibility of the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
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